Rack for seamstresses



y 5, 1959 M. c. REED 2,885,131

RACK FOR SEAMSTRESSES Filed April 50, 1957 INVENTOR. /7. CHRIs T/NE REED ATTORNEY ttes This invention relates to an improved rack for seamstresses and has for one of its principal objects the provision of a device of the class described which will be particularly suitable for supporting a skirt or similar article of apparel in position for working thereon, such as adjustments of the length, alterations of the hem or similar operations.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide a skirt support or similar apparatus which is adjustable both as to the size of waist line and also as regarding the height of the same above the ground or floor.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a support for skirts or a dress form, wherein provision can be made for flaring the skirt from its support so as to more closely simulate the form or contour of the human body upon which the skirt is designed to be worn.

Another and still further important object of the invention relates to an apparatus which is readily portable and which requires very little space, thereby distinguishing in a great degree from the cumbersome dress forms ordinarily in use.

Yet another object of the invention is the provision of a rack for skirts in which adjustments of various types can be readily and simply made and wherein the apparatus when so adjusted will remain fixed so long as the operator desires.

Other and further important objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and following specification.

The invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved rack for seamstresses of this invention, showing the same as in actual operation.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section, taken on the plane of the line 22 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is a further enlarged and horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking downwardly.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 2, looking in the direction indicated and illustrating an important detail. Figure 5 shows a modification.

As shown in the drawings:

The reference numeral indicates generally a base upon which the seamstresses rack of this invention is mounted, and while a conventional base is shown, it will be obvious that any type of supporting element may be employed in this connection as occasion arises or necessity indicates.

Fixed in the base 10 is a tube or colum 12 which has slidably mounted therein a further tube 14, and a setscrew or the like 16 is in a boss 18 on the tube 12, where by the relationship between the tubes 12 and 14 can be readily adjusted and fixed to provide a suitable working height for the rack or support of this invention.

An annulus 29 is screw-threaded onto the upper end of the tube 14, and this in turn supports a hollow channel tent ice

or cross bar 22 in which a pair of slides 24 is positioned. The channel or tube and the slides can be composed of any suitable material, and the slides are of such a length as to project slightly beyond the respective ends of the tube or channel 22, all as best shown in Figure 2.

The inner end of each slide has a flexible strip 28 fastened thereto in any suitable manner, and these strips extend downwardly into the tube 14 with their lower ends both connected to a block or similar element 26 (Figure 2). These flexible strips 28 are preferably composed of spring steel but many types of plastic now available could be employed for accomplishing the same purpose.

The block 26 is provided with a central opening through which a rod or tube 30 extends.

This rod or tube 30 is rotatable in the opening in the block 26 and is held in position by means of washers 32 and cotter pins or the like 34 (Figure 3).

The rod or tube 3d is provided with an operating knob or the like 40 and is pierced with a number of openings 42, as best shown in Figure 2. This rod extends upwardly through an opening in the top face of the channel 22 and is vertically movable therein. A hook or similar element 44 is pivotally mounted on the top of the channel 22 by means of a screw or the like 46, and the end of this hook is adapted to readily fit into any one of the openings 42 if the same is brought just above the level of the upper face of the channel or guide 22.

Fitted onto the outer end of each of the slides 24 are semi-circular supports 50 and 52 which can be composed of any suitable material such as metal or plastic and which for practical purposes are usually covered with a coating of cloth or the like into which pins or other fastening devices can be readily embedded.

The semi-circular sections can overlap to some extent when the apparatus is in its most retracted position.

However, when the knob 40 with its rod or tube 30 is raised, the block 26 moves upwardly in the tube 14 and the resilient but properly directed force of the strips 28 will cause a corresponding simultaneous outward movement of the slides 24. This outward movement will expand the semi-circular supports 56-52 into the position shown in the dotted lines in Figure 2, thereby enabling the apparatus to be readily adjusted for different waist sizes. When a proper size has been determined upon, the hook 44 is moved into its adjacent or juxtaposed opening 42, thereby assuring that the apparatus will remain in this adjusted position so long as the operator desires.

As indicated by the dotted lines 56 in Figure 1, an auxiliary support for the skirt 60 can be preliminarily mounted on the semi-circular elements 5052 to more closely simulate the contours of the person for whom the skirt is intended, if such be found necessary or desirable. In many instances, this element 56 can be omitted and the same may be composed of any suitable material, such as crinoline, paper, cardboard, plastic or even molded material; and it can be fitted or fastened onto the ring ele ments in any suitable or convenient manner.

In Figure 5 a slightly modified form of the invention is illustrated, this comprising a pair of semi-circular elements and 22 which correspond generally to the structure 50 of Figure 1. Each of these has an integral boss 94- and 96 respectively, and each boss is internally screw threaded as shown.

Correspondingly screw threaded rods 86 and 88 are fitted into the bosses 96 and 94 respectively, and a knurled annulus connected to the shafts 86 and 88 forms a turn buckle construction which by way of the blocks 82 will operate to move the supports 90 and 92 toward or away from each other when the knurled annulus is turned. Obviously, the elements 90 and 92 would have to be held against rotation by hand or some other suitable means what the turn buckle element 8d is being rotated. This modified term of the apparatus can be, mounted on a supportasimilartothatshownatlmlianduin Figiuelhevident n18: provided an when,

in a minimumspace of time and with practically no ellort. The apparatus requires very little space, can actually be disassembled and packed in a very small comments being in in anyfll i lrdlliflmhip,

pass when not in use, is composed of a minimum number h of parts and is therefore easy to operate and not at all likely to get out of order. The cost of construction and consequent price, to the user or purchaser is much less than that of the usual dress form and the advantages of over earlier constructions will readily be apparent.

Iamawarethatmanychangesmaybemadeandnumerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not propose limiting the patent prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A rack for seamstresses comprising an adjustable upright, a support for the waist of a skirt at the upper end of the upright said support comprising a pair of semicircular elements, the ends of said semi-circular eleand means for adjusting the circumference of said support, the adjusting means including a rod, vertically movable in the upright, a cross piece for the support, and slides for the support movable in the cross piece, flexible strips connecting the slides to the vertical movable rod, the connections between the strips and the rod being at the lower end of the 'rod, said connections including a block having a circular opening therein, means for rotatably positioning the end of the rod in the opening in the block, the rod having a plurality of openings therein, means on the cross, piece for selectively fixing the rod in desired adjusted position with relationship to the cross piece, said means comprising a hook'pivoted on the upper face of the cross piece, the end of the hook adapted to be fitted into any one of the openings in the rod.

2. A device as described in claim 1, wherein an auxiliary support for the hip portion of the skirt'is' provided for the main support.

granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 290,990 Knapp Dec. 25, 1883 383,470 Knapp May 29, 1888 411,428 Dodge Sept. 24,1889 1,798,009 Arena Mar. 24, 1931 2,063,767 Spencer Dec. 8, 1936 2,412,900 Mayer Dec. 17, 1946 2,418,083 Mayer Mar. 25, 1947 

